Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (Signal High) —– The Canadian Armed Forces is dealing with even more embarrassment following a series of incidents originating in Quebec — including soldiers brandishing Nazi salutes at a 2023 gathering.
According to Lieutenant General Mike Wright, commander of the army, a video was brought to his attention on August 6 and an investigation commenced immediately. The military police were also notified. According to Wright, at least five of the identified participants were, at the time, serving members of the Canadian Army. One individual can be seen performing a military-like drill in front of the Royal 22e Regiment Flag, then consuming an unknown substance. Several participants performed the Nazi salute. The video was given to news media by a member of the public and appears to have been taken at a basement house party.
Among those charged, Simon Angers-Audet, Raphaël Lagacé, Marc-Aurèle Chabot, and Matthew Forbes. Some of the offences include firearms and explosives, terrorist activity, and more. Further details were not provided by the department.
Two parallel investigations are also underway, one internal and one by military police. Authorities are also investigating another incident involving a Facebook group where members of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh’s Own) are alleged to have posted hateful and inappropriate content online. This writer reached out to His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (Edward Antony Richard Louis) to discuss the conduct of the military outfit made in his name, but received no response.
In another incident, two serving soldiers, a former soldier, and a civilian cadet instructor, were identified and accused as participants in an extremist, anti-government plot that was alleged to involve the capture and occupation of a parcel of private land. The men are accused of stealing an arsenal of highly restricted weapons and military equipment, including night-vision gear. The Department of National Defense claimed that none of the military-grade equipment, that is only ever sold to bona fide military organizations, came from its inventory. The local 7-11 must have been having a clearance sale.
General Wright said in a written statement, “Hateful conduct and extremism have no place in the Canadian Army. It hurts our ability to recruit the best of Canada, to maintain credibility to deliver on operations, and it erodes public trust in our institution.” This writer has been unable to verify that the Canadian Armed Forces recruits the best of Canada, or has any public trust to lose. “Canadian Army members who jeopardize that trust and participate in hateful conduct will face the consequences of their actions,” Wright added. It is not clear what the consequences will be, or what rank they will be promoted to.
According to news media reports, the Canadian Armed Forces introduced a number of new policies in 2020 to address the growing number of incidents of right-wing extremism and racism in their ranks. An onus was put on Canadian soldiers to report hateful conduct. In good Canadian tradition, a registry was also introduced to track incidents.
General Jennie Carignan, Canada’s chief of defense staff, is purported to have said in a recent interview that the military is losing the battle against hateful conduct. In an interview with the Canada Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Carignan said “CAF members know what the expectations are and how should they act … If they try to act, to hide their behaviour, it is only a question of time before we find them, so there is absolutely no room for that type of behaviour as part of our ranks.” The general noted that that in society as a whole, racist incidents and hateful conduct have been on the rise since 2009.
Thanks for acting so decisively on that, Jennie. How very reassuring.
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